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A Simple Guide for First Time Cruisers

June 15, 2013

If you have never cruised before, you’re not alone! Seventy-five percent of Americans have never been on a cruise. However, once you’ve had a taste of this all-inclusive floating paradise, you’ll be hooked. The sheer number and variety of cruises available can be overwhelming for first time cruisers, but we are here to help. Here are some ways to find the trip and the ship that were made for you.

Adventure Cruises

Have you ever wanted to see the ruins of Ephesus, climb a rainforest path, study glaciers up close, or set foot on a virgin beach? If so, destination cruises are right for you. A sample cruise itinerary from Venice to Istanbul includes Dubrovnik, Santorini, Ancient Olympia, and the ruins of Ephesus…and you never even have to unpack your suitcase. Or a Danube river cruise will have you touring Regensburg, admiring the Wachau Valley with incredible perspective, leaving Bratislava to sail among the wild birds in the wetlands, and finally arriving, amazed, at the beauty of Buda and Pest from the only angle where you can see them both.

After a day of exploration, you’ll only have to walk another 20 feet on the ship deck to enjoy a five-course meal with complimentary regional wine before climbing 10 steps to watch the moon light the Austrian Mountains. On our side of the Atlantic, you can choose to sail from steamy Rio to exciting Buenos Aires before charting course around Cape Horn and ending in the spectacular vineyards of Chile. Hiking the rainforest trails of Juneau, kayaking the Inside Passage, and feeling the chill of a glacier are exhilarating activities made possible by a cruise ship. There’s also the endless intrigue in the South Pacific and the Mekong River in Cambodia and Vietnam. Find your fit, whether it’s a 150-passenger riverboat, 228-passengers sailing ship, or 2,100-passenger luxury liner.

The Ship as a Destination in Itself

There are few places as tranquil as a cruise ship for those who really need to sit back and relax. One of the great features of a large ship is that there are non-stop activities, and as a guest you can choose to do as many—or more importantly, as few—as you want. And because you may not always be in the same mood as your travel companion, you’ll appreciate the freedom of experiencing all that the vessel has to offer without ever having to take separate taxis. After enjoying dinner (in one of nine restaurants), are you up for a Broadway show, an ice skating review, a jazz club, or a great massage? And if you and your partner (or several of your friends or relatives) decide on different ways to end the evening, you can easily meet up for a late-night dance before heading “home” to a private balcony overlooking moonlit water. In the morning, that balcony is the perfect place to sip coffee from room service as you open that book you never had time to read at home while your travel companion enjoys breakfast literally 50 yards away. There is no better way to travel with others—and no worrying about how to split the check!

All of us at Traterra remember our first cruise and the questions we had before getting on board. Whether it’s your first cruise or your 5oth, we look forward to helping you plan your next adventure.

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